Nova exposes a hole in Wojo's recruiting

[tower912]

A few years ago, Wojo realized that having two small guards on the floor at the same time was not sustainable.   Since then, DJ is the smallest guard to come to MU.  Lots of 6'3-4 guards.   Great.   
Wojo was able to replace the Hausers with Lewis, Garcia, and Osa.  Well done.   Aidoo is a mobile 7 footer.  Awesome.

Where are the switchables?  Speedy 6'5-8 guys who can defend 4-5 different positions?   Because you cannot defend Villanova's 5 out with post defenders and slow forwards.   Wings who can dribble and shoot 3s.

I look at the unused scholarships and notice the lack of wings.

You want better defense?   Speed and versatility.   Big guards are nice.  Perhaps playing 4 big guards could have been an adjustment last night.   But then you have athletic 6'7 guys posting Greg or DJ without enough size to help at the rim.

So, balance.   I like the notion of athletic big forwards.  (Garcia, Lewis, Osa, Aidoo) and guards with size. (Every guard next year).  Use the last scholarships and get some versatile 6'6ish guys

[Shooter McGavin]

There will never really be perfect roster construction.  I do get your point but we seem to have enough talent to win this year and hopefully we will as the schedule eases up a bit.  I think Wojo needs to figure it out.  All of us would like the perfect roster of switchables with height, speed and athleticism.  But I believe numerous other coaches would squeeze a decent amount of success out of this group. 

Let's see if Wojo can do it.  The betting man would say no at this point.  The smart money is on a new coach more likely to get the job done than Wojo. I still hold out hope. The light is flickering on and off and seems ready to go out however.

[bilsu]

The two freshmen will get better defensively as they mature. Lewis makes a lot of mistakes on defense.

[Nukem2]

 A couple of Nova-like skilled mobile 6'6" or 6'7" wings  who can shoot would add a lot to this program to build on the current frosh bigs and Aidoo.  Need flexibility.

[GooooMarquette]

Where are the switchables?  Speedy 6'5-8 guys who can defend 4-5 different positions?   

Agree...but every major program in the country is after the few dozen guys like that in the top 200. MU's problem last night was that all of our legit switchables (except Jamal) were freshmen who are still learning the D. We can hide that against a lot of programs, but Nova took full advantage.

[BCHoopster]

Agree...but every major program in the country is after the few dozen guys like that in the top 200. MU's problem last night was that all of our legit switchables (except Jamal) were freshmen who are still learning the D. We can hide that against a lot of programs, but Nova took full advantage.
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Right now he has nobody to play the wing next year unless he thinks Perez is the answer, if he thinks he is the answer, why is he not playing?  Maybe Akanno but he looks more like a guard.  I can see another transfer.

[dgies9156]

A couple of Nova-like skilled mobile 6'6" or 6'7" wings  who can shoot would add a lot to this program to build on the current frosh bigs and Aidoo.  Need flexibility.

Hopefully, Oso develops into one of these people.

[WarriorFan]

It's not the players, it's not the recruiting (now... during the midget era it was a problem).

The problem is the system.  The offense prevents open looks and uses time poorly and restricts ball movement and is too easy to defend.

The defense never changes.  Easy switches, never going over screens even on a hot shooter. 

Opposing coaches - especially in the conference - know exactly what MU will do in every situation and even the worst can come up with something to top Wojo's "system".

It looked to me like Nova didn't even prep for MU.  Wright let them play for about 10 minutes and then adjusted offense and defense and just took over the game. 

[panda]

It's not the players, it's not the recruiting (now... during the midget era it was a problem).

The problem is the system.  The offense prevents open looks and uses time poorly and restricts ball movement and is too easy to defend.

The defense never changes.  Easy switches, never going over screens even on a hot shooter. 

Opposing coaches - especially in the conference - know exactly what MU will do in every situation and even the worst can come up with something to top Wojo's "system".

It looked to me like Nova didn't even prep for MU.  Wright let them play for about 10 minutes and then adjusted offense and defense and just took over the game.

Sometimes I just close my eyes and think about what Brian Wardle has done at Uwgb and Bradley.

[tower912]

He is probably next when Wojo leaves.

[willie warrior]

He is probably next when Wojo leaves.

And why not? Wojo has not done jack squat. Just the facts

[WarriorFan]

Bradley lost to Xavier by 1.  MU lost by 3.  That means Wardle is 3x better than Wojo.

[panda]

Bradley lost to Xavier by 1.  MU lost by 3.  That means Wardle is 3x better than Wojo.

He's really done a remarkable job at two extremely difficult places to win. Incremental growth each season.

[4everwarriors]

Don't agree dat Woj iz da tits wit recruitin'. Plus, few get bedder in his system. He duzant float my boat, aina?

[Newsdreams]

It's not the players, it's not the recruiting (now... during the midget era it was a problem).

The problem is the system.  The offense prevents open looks and uses time poorly and restricts ball movement and is too easy to defend.

The defense never changes.  Easy switches, never going over screens even on a hot shooter. 

Opposing coaches - especially in the conference - know exactly what MU will do in every situation and even the worst can come up with something to top Wojo's "system".

It looked to me like Nova didn't even prep for MU.  Wright let them play for about 10 minutes and then adjusted offense and defense and just took over the game.

Or maybe by the 10 minute mark couple of our key players were in foul trouble and Nova is team that is way better than our team. Nova looks like a legit top 4-5 team. Nova is way ahead of every BE team, they might lose 2 games in BE. Our team will improve. We will have the chance to beat every other team besides Nova, I believe we go 0-2 or 0-3 against them.

[MU82]

As recently as a few months ago, the knee-jerk reaction whenever Wardle's name came up was of sheer horror. Nooooooo!

But he clearly has done a good job in two spots, and his next logical move is to the P6 level. Some school at that level will make him a head coach, perhaps as soon as next season.

It will be interesting to see what the reaction will be on Scoop if Marquette is that school.

[Nukem2]

As recently as a few months ago, the knee-jerk reaction whenever Wardle's name came up was of sheer horror. Nooooooo!

But he clearly has done a good job in two spots, and his next logical move is to the P6 level. Some school at that level will make him a head coach, perhaps as soon as next season.

It will be interesting to see what the reaction will be on Scoop if Marquette is that school.

Fwiw, Bradley is currently 4-3 against Div I schools including a loss to South Dakota State.

[tower912]

Some will celebrate.   Some will lament not getting a bigger name. 

[4everwarriors]

Pass, hey?

[panda]

Fwiw, Bradley is currently 4-3 against Div I schools including a loss to South Dakota State.

They lost to x and mizzou by one point each game this year.

He took over Bradley when they were one of the worst programs in the country and took them to the ncaa tournament last season. He had won at GB which is a brutal job.

But he lost to South Dakota state this year...

[Dr. Blackheart]

As recently as a few months ago, the knee-jerk reaction whenever Wardle's name came up was of sheer horror. Nooooooo!

But he clearly has done a good job in two spots, and his next logical move is to the P6 level. Some school at that level will make him a head coach, perhaps as soon as next season.

It will be interesting to see what the reaction will be on Scoop if Marquette is that school.

Any Shaka or Cuonzo updates?

[brewcity77]

He took over Bradley when they were one of the worst programs in the country and took them to the ncaa tournament last season.

Not actually to the tournament since it didn't happen, but Wardle was one of a very few coaches to legitimately earn a NCAA bid last year, since they won the MVC Tournament before things were shut down.

[panda]

Not actually to the tournament since it didn't happen, but Wardle was one of a very few coaches to legitimately earn a NCAA bid last year, since they won the MVC Tournament before things were shut down.

Lol they would've played at least one game in the cancelled tournament.

[MU82]

Any Shaka or Cuonzo updates?

Sure.

Shaka: In his 6th season at Texas, he looks like he might finally have a season better than Wojo's best seasons at Marquette, though we'll have to see.

Cuonzo: After three years of using Cal as a stepping-stone school (and losing his only NCAA tournament game there), and now in his fourth season at Mizzou, it looks like he might finally have a year better than Wojo's best seasons at Marquette, though we'll have to see.

Neither of them has had a season even as good as 2018-19 was for Wojo, but maybe one or both finally will this year. Which would be wonderful for them.

Thanks for asking!

[🏀]

Sure.

Shaka: In his 6th season at Texas, he looks like he might finally have a season better than Wojo's best seasons at Marquette, though we'll have to see.

Cuonzo: After three years of using Cal as a stepping-stone school (and losing his only NCAA tournament game there), and now in his fourth season at Mizzou, it looks like he might finally have a year better than Wojo's best seasons at Marquette, though we'll have to see.

Neither of them has had a season even as good as 2018-19 was for Wojo, but maybe one or both finally will this year. Which would be wonderful for them.

Thanks for asking!

Howland will be next, who is slightly below Wojo's par.